GB2045308A

GB2045308A - A Building Block

Info

Publication number: GB2045308A
Application number: GB8004140A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Roadstone Ltd
Current assignee: Roadstone Ltd
Priority date: 1979-02-08
Filing date: 1980-02-07
Publication date: 1980-10-29
Also published as: IE790239L; GB2042314B; GB2042314A

Abstract

A building block having on one long face (4) a pattern of ribs or grooves (5) extending transversely of the face (4) and said block having a central void (7) having a cross- sectional shape such that if the block is split in a transverse plane extending through the void (7) there is produced on an end face of each split block a pattern of ribs similar to and continuous with the pattern on the face (4) of the block. <IMAGE>

Description

1

GB 2 045 308 A 1

SPECIFICATION A Building Block

This invention relates to a building block, and in particular to a rustic building block having on 5 one long face thereof a pattern of parallel ribs or grooves running transversely of said face, such block being hereinafter designated a building block of the kind described.

In the use of building blocks of the kind 10 described, it is often desirable to split a block into portions, and use block portions to complete the bond at the corners of a masonry structure. An end face of a block portion remains exposed in the finished masonry, and interrupts the pattern of 15 ribs or grooves. It is an object of the invention to provide a block which when broken can be laid so as to preserve said pattern.

The invention therefore provides a building block of the kind described, wherein at least one 20 break-void is provided having a cross-sectional profile of which one half is preserved in a block split along said void, said half profile being adapted in conjunction with the adjacent broken surfaces to produce, in the broken end of a block 25 portion, a pattern similar to and continuous with the pattern on the long face of the block.

The pattern on the long face desirably includes one groove adjacent said void and parallel thereto, said groove being adapted to act as a 30 breakline whereby the splitting of the block about the break-void is further facilitated. A further groove may be provided on the inner or non-patterned long face of the block, disposed so as to act as a further breakline.

35 The invention will be appreciated in greater detail from the following description of a particular and preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 40 Fig. 1 is a plan view of a building block in its normal orientation in a masonry structure;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the corner formed by the intersection of two walls built from blocks of the kind shown in Fig. 1; and 45 Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second building block in its normal orientation in a masonry structure.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, a building block has a flat top 1 r and a flat bottom and is bounded laterally by a flat

50 long face 2, two flat end faces 3 and rustic profiled long face 4. In the profiled face 4 grooves i 5 are smooth moulded and intermediate panels 6

are rought-cast or broken-faced to give a rustic finish. The block may in fact be a split-off half of 55 an original moulded double block and in that case the panels 6 are broken-faced in consequence of the splitting.

The block contains a central void 7 the cross-sectional profile of which comprises two grooves 60 8 similar to the grooves 5 already described, arranged mouth-to-mouth. Since the grooves 8 are wider at the mouth than at the base, the weakened block will split across the plane of contact of the grooves 8, yielding two half-blocks

65 9 (Fig. 2) each of which displays on one end face thereof a groove 8 and two panels 6a similar to the panels 6 on the profiled long face 4 thereof.

The flat end faces 3 have beveled edges 10 of intersection with the profiled long face 4. 70 Adjacent blocks separated by a mortar joint 11 thus present between them a groove 5a similar to the grooves 5, so that the profiled pattern is unbroken.

A central vertical groove 12 is provided on the 75 flat long face 2 and has two inclined sides parallel to respective sides of the cross-section of the central void 7. The apex of groove 12 lies in the plane of fracture of the block into two half-blocks 9, the groove 12 thus acting as an auxiliary 80 breakline. The half-block 9 accordingly retains one inclined side 12a of the erstwhile groove 12, which together with a mortar joint and a beveled edge 10 of a whole block forms a groove 5b similar to the grooves 5, so that the profiled 85 pattern is unbroken even in proceeding round a corner formed by two adjacent walls.

It will be appreciated from Fig. 3 that the block may contain a second void 7a in addition or alternatively to the central void previously 90 described. The second void is located preferably at a distance from one end of the block equal to one-fourth the length of the block. Apart from its location, the second void is identical with the central void, (if present), having all the 95 characteristics of said central void except that the block may be split into quarter and three-quarter portions.

Since three-quarter, half or quarter blocks can readily be produced from whole blocks, only one 100 block type is necessary for building masonry structures having an all-over pattern of vertical ribs or grooves, the pattern extending to include corners and exposed wall ends.

Claims

Claims

105 1 • A building block of the kind described, wherein at least one break-word is provided having a cross-sectional profile of which one half is preserved in a block split along said void, said half profile being adapted in conjunction with the 110 adjacent broken surfaces to produce, in the broken end of a block portion, a pattern similar to and continuous with the pattern on the long face of the block.
2. A building block as claimed in claim 1 115 wherein the pattern on the long face of the block includes one groove adjacent said void and parallel thereto, said groove being adapted to act as a breakline whereby the splitting of the block about the break-void is further facilitated. 120
3. A building block as claimed in claim 2,

wherein a second groove is provided on the inner or non-patterned long face of the block, disposed so as to act as a further breakline.
4. A building block as claimed in any of claims 125 1—3 wherein one break-void is equidistant from the ends of the block.
5. A building block as claimed in any of claims 1—4 wherein one break-void is located at a

2

GB 2 045 308 A 2

distance from one end of the block equal to one-fourth the length of the block.
6. A masonry structure made from blocks as claimed in any of claims 1—5.

5
7. A building block as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1980. Published by the Patent Office. 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.